OCCUPATIONAL RISKS FOR CUTANEOUS MELANOMA AMONG MEN IN SWEDEN

A population-based linked-registry was used to evaluate incidence of m alignant melanoma of the skin among Swedish men by industry and occupa tion. There were 3850 cutaneous melanoma cases identified in the 19-ye ar follow-up of men employed in 1960. New associations were observed f or men employed in the breweries and malt-processing industry and in s hoe fabrication from leather and skins. Several findings supported ass ociations previously reported in other countries, including an excess risk among workers in basic chemical production and the printing indus try and among professional, technical, and white-collar workers. Risk overall was not increased among farmers, despite a significant excess of melanoma of the face, neck, and scalp. Although this linked registr y analysis lacked information about specific agents, duration of emplo yment, and occupational and recreational sun exposures, it did provide leads for new associations and confirmed previous ones. Nevertheless, because of these limitations, etiologic clues must be interpreted cau tiously.